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Getting Over the Fear of Sunday Night

Barry Moltz

Getting Small Businesses Unstuck, Shafran Moltz Group

I get small business owners unstuck through speaking , writing and consulting. I host a Talk Radio Show. I am a big technology, antique car and karate enthusiast.

It doesn't matter if you're a small-business owner who works Monday through Fridays or you clock in 24/7—Sunday night is typically met with trepidation. In many cases, people don’t really want to go back to work and leave the comfort of the weekend.

1. Write down the tasks for Monday and the rest of the week. Take extra time on Sunday to discuss your specific expectations, goals and projects for the week, so you know what's really important, what can wait or what can be deleted entirely from this week's agenda. Think about specifically what needs to be accomplished. Post these tasks where they can be seen all week. Furthermore, Myers believes that “breaking things down into smaller pieces will make the work easier to achieve. It will also feel less overwhelming.”

Monday morning should not be open for negotiation. Know exactly what needs to be accomplished. In fact, the night before any workday, list the two critical tasks that need to get done the next day before any other activity, like e-mail or social media. This way, you're guaranteed to be productive, not just busy.

2. Schedule at least one activity on Monday that you truly enjoy. Myers says this will give you something “to look forward to right at the beginning of the week.” Schedule a lunch with a co-worker or friend to provide an easy transition from the weekend. Ensure that the tasks you prioritized to get done in the morning were in fact completed before this kind of reward.

3. Think of Monday as "Career Day." Myers suggests devoting part of every Monday to “career activities.” Stop and think about where you and your business are going long term. Do you still have the passion for your company? Are there changes that need to be made to accomplish your goals? Without this check-in, even having your own business can seem like an endless grind.

4. Stop complaining. Myers thinks that “if you have been complaining about your job for a long time, you need to take responsibility for the current situation and make a change.” Stop complaining and use that energy to take action and change your situation. What's the first step you can take to make that change happen? What's the second step?

5. Focus on long-term objectives. Myers believes when people have meaningful long-range goals, they “don’t focus on Sunday nights or any other day of the week.” If you're truly satisfied with your long-term goals, you can face whatever any day of the week can throw at you. In fact, you might even look forward to Monday!

What do you do to relieve the stress of Sunday night? Let us know in the comments below!